~~ Some of us think holding on makes us stronger; but sometimes it is letting go. ~~ Herman Hesse

Elizabeth stepped backwards to take a good, long look in the full-length mirror. The diamonds around her neck flashing patterns of square cut light around the room. Light that bounced happily off the slinky, black, strapless number that she wore as well.

‘That’ll do it,’ she thought to herself. Smiling a bit as she turned in the mirror. Getting a good look at her self from all sides. The slit, drawn up the back showcased just the right amount of calf to get his attention. Enough to be sexy, yet not enough to be deemed a harlot in her husband’s eyes.

‘Definitely ready for a night of seduction,’ she concluded. Rolling her eyes. A night of disgust was more like it.

The mere thought of wearing a dress specifically bought to make Alex want to peel her like a grape, sent a shudder throughout her entire body. ‘And the grape’s, skin is a lot tighter than it was in the store,’ she thought. Grimacing as she took another gander at her butt in the mirror.

"It’s ok," she mumbled to herself. Leaning forward to paint on her lips. "Alex isn’t particularly picky about these things…and this is the last night you’ll ever even have to worry about it."

Sauntering away from the mirror, Elizabeth walked towards her jewelry box. Not needing to peruse its contents for long. She already knew what she would wear tonight. The antique looking square cut diamond, with the near microscopic hinges on the side fit perfectly on her finger. Went perfectly with her diamond choker. Went perfectly with her attire. And went perfectly with the little dose of poison that Alex would get tonight.

She was so glad she’d decided to have it made after all.

"Speaking of which," Elizabeth mumbled, turning back towards the powder room with a spring in her step. The pink room sitting just to the side of the master bedroom.

She’d very conveniently moved her things back into this room in the morning. Right before Alex had returned. And he of course, was so exquisitely stupid that he hadn’t been any the wiser.

Though he had been smart enough to tear her and the love her life apart. ‘Smart enough to handle that,’ she thought. Pulling out the drawer beneath the vanity. The small packet of white powder she’d bought just the other day was stuffed beneath it. Stuck under a hidden wooden slate.

Quickly she tore open the packet and poured just a bit inside the ring that she wore. Fastening it tightly, a moment later. How very handy this ring was. She really was going to have to thank Alex for loaning her the money to buy another sparkly trinket for such a special occasion.

If she wasn’t so angry she could laugh. Laugh uproariously at what an unfathomable idiot he was. But she didn’t have time to laugh at anything. There were plans to be carried out and carried out to the letter. Lucky was already worried enough without her being late on top of everything else.

He’d been so anxious. Especially knowing that they wouldn’t be able to stay in contact today. In the morning they’d gone their separate ways after going over the plan just one more time.

But the night had come now, and soon they’d be together. Soon, every trouble that Alex had ever reaped on them would be over and done with. Elizabeth closed her eyes and thought of how beautiful it would be to sleep in Lucky’s arms again. Without having to worry that Alex would come home early and catch them.

For, they wouldn’t be in this house but in their own – in his apartment. And then maybe in a home of their very own someday.

"Don’t count your chickens yet Webber," Elizabeth sighed, before backing away from the mirror to take an investigative look at herself once more. She looked ok, right? Alex wouldn’t be able to tell she had an agenda? He’d believed her thus far when she said she wanted to make tonight special…to make tonight ‘the night.’ Why would he start doubting it now?

Nodding, she took a step back and then turned to exit the powder room. The feel of something small and hard beneath her foot, halting her mid stride. She bent down to examine what lie beneath her bare foot. Her fingers retrieving a tiny white pill from the carpet.

"What’s…" Her voice trailed away, as she instantly remembered. "Alex."

The night he’d forced her to flush her birth control pills down the toilet. Saying that he’d taken ‘measures,’ to ensure that they could have babies. That her doctor had told him it was ok…Whatever the Hell that meant. She had wanted to keep one pill…just in case. Not that it had done any good, since she and Lucky had started using the damn condoms.

Elizabeth groaned aloud about that little issue.

Getting herself BACK on the pill was going to have to be a major priority. She placed this one inside her evening bag and exited the room. Once she found herself a new ob/gyn she’d be able to find out what the hell kind of drugs Alex had gotten for her. Whatever it was could possibly explain why she’d been feeling so funny lately. Maybe it was simply the fact that she’d quit taking the damn things so abruptly.

Of course a major part of her weird feelings were due to stress. She knew that.

"Well the stress ends tonight," Elizabeth sighed to herself, crossing the threshold. She had a party to get to after all, and definitely couldn’t keep the guest of honor waiting.

~~~~~~~

Lucky straightened his bow tie in the mirror and took a deep breath. He hated bow ties, but if you wanted to blend in with the stuffy crowd that was beginning to mill through the doors at the Hart Mansion tonight, a tuxedo was required.

He ran a hand down each arm, and checked for creases. Then turned to straighten the hem of his jacket. Damn it, Elizabeth was good at this kind of thing, not him. Though it really didn’t matter tonight. No one was going to be seeing him anyway. Not if he played his cards right.

Closing his eyes, Lucky sent a silent prayer to the man in charge that everything would go exactly as they planned it tonight. That the guests were arriving in a timely fashion, and that Stephan and Nikolas were among them. That his father was around for back up that he knew he would need if he ran across Alex in a corner somewhere tonight. That Elizabeth didn’t get too overzealous in her end of the deal.

She’d scared him the day before with all her talk about "getting even," and not letting Alex get away with anything. But this morning during their brief conversation she’d seemed a little more normal and less homicidal. Although in this case feeling homicidal towards Alex WAS normal.

It wasn’t like he didn’t feel the urge himself.

Oh he felt it. Lately he felt it with every breath he took, and seeing Alex tonight for the first time in days…That would be the most extreme exercise in self-control.

Staring at his own reflection in the mirror, Lucky silently talked to himself. Breathing in deeply through his nose to calm himself down. Trying to cleanse himself of all the murderous thoughts he was having tonight.

Alexander Hart was a Cassidine.

A Cassidine that had succeeded in ripping his family apart. Ripping him away from Elizabeth - the only untainted love that he’d ever known. And he hated him for it. Hated him with every single fiber of his being. Hated him so much that the taste of it felt bitter against his tongue.

Lucky bit his lip and breathed in deeply once more. This morning, Elizabeth HAD seemed better. He wished silently that he could feel that way too. That he would be able to get past the anger at some point…but he didn’t see that happening any time soon.

Fingering the small golden key that lay snuggly in his lapel pocket, Lucky wondered how good ol’ Alex was doing right about now…without knowing what the contents of his precious box was.

"Paranoid yet?" Lucky asked quietly to no one in particular as he straightened his bow tie once more in front of the mirror. "I bet you are Alex…I bet you are."

~~~~~~~

Alex smiled proudly as the guests filtered in through the garden, led down the path by the various employees that were working this evening. It was going to be a good night. A great night…he could feel it.

It had been a long, and tiresome trip home but the extra day had been worth it. He’d known if he’d searched Helena’s villa long and hard enough he’d come up with something, and he had. Something, indeed.

His mother was a genius. Of course she’d made copies of important documents. And after searching the entire house…there it had been. A copy of the original will that he knew probably lay in the box that remained unopened in his office.

The damned box. It had plagued his dreams and nightmares for months, and even if he had to destroy the antique treasure he would. He would find out what the Hell was in the box even if it was the last thing he did…there were liable to papers in there that could ruin him. But for tonight – tonight he wouldn’t think of that. He held all the proof he needed of his heritage in his pants pocket and that was all he needed.

Almost all.

But he needn’t worry about that either. Elizabeth had promised to come to him tonight. Had promised that tonight would be the night they made love again for the first time.

They would try to start a family tonight.

Alex smiled knowingly to himself and slipped a hand inside his pocket. Letting his fingers trail over the yellowing sheet of paper. Helena had known she was dying long ago and she’d taken care of things – she’d taken care of her son. Finally.

"You won’t regret it mother," he said silently. Preparing him self to walk up the short stairway to the stage.

"Who ya talkin to?" Elizabeth cooed, sneaking up behind him. Alex jumped when her hands slipped up his back and around his neck.

She began to massage his tense shoulders and he chuckled happily, turning towards her. His arms quickly slithered around her waist. God, it felt good to be home.

"No one in particular sweetheart…Just preparing myself up to get up there and welcome everyone one."

‘Half true,’ Alex mused. He was a bit nervous about speaking to the crowd that was building out on the dance floor, but not about welcoming them. He was more nervous about the speech that he would give later on. When it came time to talk about the two scholarships and the renovations to the gallery…all the donations made to different charities.

Where all the money was coming from with a non-profit organization.

Elizabeth grinned and clasped her fingers behind his neck, painting on a smile that could have won her an Academy Award. "You’ll do great. Everyone’s going to have a wonderful time tonight…and it’s all because of you, and all the great things you’re doing with the gallery."

"You’re too kind," Alex grinned. Leaning in to kiss her.

Elizabeth bit down hard on her tongue when he pulled away. He was such an ass.

"You do all the work," he continued grinning.

‘Damn straight I do,’ Elizabeth thought. Silently seething. This man had destroyed her life…and here he was – kissing her, as if all were right with the world. "I couldn’t do it without you Sweetheart…now let’s get up there and welcome our guest shall we?"

~~~~~~~

"Oooh…one of those please…ah, make that two," Emily sighed. Changing her mind as she swiped not one, but two glasses of champagne from the serving tray that passed by.

"Hey, one of those for me?" Nikolas asked. Eyeing her as she took a gulp from one and then the other. Holding each in separate hands while trying to balance her evening bag on her forearm.

"Nope," she said, swigging away. "Get your own."

The petite, female server patted Nikolas’ arm. "Here you are sir…believe me you’re gonna need it…in fact why don’t you have two? The boss gets a little longwinded sometimes."

Nikolas nodded and took two, but handed one off to Stephan. "You should take one…you look like you could use it."

Stephan shook his head quietly and pushed the glass back on the tray. "No thank you…we should be paying attention to what’s going on around us Nikolas…not sampling the vintage."

Sighing in forced agreement, Nikolas placed both glasses back on the tray. "Thanks anyway."

"No problem…at least SOMEBODY’S gonna have a good time tonight," Angela said, smiling at Emily. The girl nodded in agreement. It was the only way anyone was going to be entertained.

"I suppose we aren’t going to dance then either?" Emily asked, whispering to Nikolas as Alex and Elizabeth made their way up onto the large stage. They took center stage and the 50- piece big band orchestra stopped playing behind them. "Dancing clouds the brain too right?"

Nikolas smirked at her and then glanced discretely at his uncle. "Maybe we can sneak off somewhere and neck when he’s not looking."

Because God knew, her neck sure did look scrumptious enough to eat tonight.

Nikolas let his eyes travel down the length of her body, watching her shiver in that deep red dress as he did so. It twinkled in the light and made her brown eyes shimmer with crimson flecks. If this wasn’t a ‘working,’ party he’d have found a broom closet somewhere and ripped her clothes off about 20 minutes ago.

Emily rose one eyebrow as if reading his thoughts. Pouting when he quickly put the kibosh on the idea. "I need to be where I’m supposed to be when Luke gives the signal."

Though her lips were pursed in a permanent pout over the situation, Emily nodded. She’d have more than enough time to ravish him at home that night. "Aye, aye cap’n,"

Stephan grimaced to the side of them as Alexander Hart began to speak. Welcoming all the guests and thanking them for coming. Thanking them for having been so generous to the gallery for the past 2 years.

‘A Cassidine,’ Stephan thought, narrowing his eyes. All these years, right under his nose. Wanting to do business from time to time. Trying to gain sponsorship from the Cassidine family.

But there’d always been something shady about his business dealings. Always something that Stephan hadn’t trusted. Little did he know it was his own family name that had made his radar go up. Little did he know Alex was just another plot sent from his mother to plague his life.

Even from the grave, the woman planned and plotted. Thinking of ways to ruin him and his family. Taking away what little joy he had left. Taking away the one thing he’d thought he have to give to his nephew – the family legacy.

‘You won’t succeed mother,’ Stephan thought stoically. ‘You won’t take that away, and neither will the dilettante up on stage…I promise you that.’

He and the dilettante made eye contact from across the crowded ballroom. Alex, having moved aside to let Elizabeth take the microphone. She talked about the artists whose work would be unveiled during the course of the evening. Two that were being granted scholarships to study abroad. And of course monies for renovations to take place at the gallery during it’s third year in existence.

And all the while Alex surveyed the crowd. His eyes halting precisely on Stephan and then on Nikolas.

‘Sizing up your new relatives?’ Stephan thought. Wondering how much of the money that the Hart & Hart Art Gallery was so generously shelling out actually belonged to the Cassidines. How much belonged to his nephew.

‘We’ll find out tonight won’t we Alexander…we’ll find out tonight.’

~~~~~~~

Elizabeth made her way through the crowd. Having spotted Emily, Nikolas and Stephan from stage. They stood in the back, Nikolas looking miserable next to his uncle. Emily downing champagne the way she wished she could. It certainly would make the evening go down easier, but for some reason she hadn’t been able to even smell alcohol lately without wanting to barf.

All the stress of the last few weeks had her system completely out of whack. She wasn’t even eating right. She craved sweets like they were going out of style, while she shunned just about everything else.

But it was for the best anyway. She needed to keep her wits about her tonight. No champagne was a good thing.

Besides, there was only one person that got to drink like a sailor tonight. The man who presently was made an ass of himself while schmoozing.

Fortunately for Elizabeth, the band had begun to play again so loudly that no one heard her when she yelped. Or saw the hands that shot out from behind the thick curtains to wrap around her waist and drag her outside.

"Sssh," Lucky said as she squealed. He grinned from ear to ear when her eyes went wide on the moonlit veranda.

"Oh my God…Lucky," Elizabeth smiled. Biting down on her lip as he led her farther outside and away from all signs of life. This part of the property had been roped off. Alex having decided it best, guests not roam around too far outside. You never know who might be out and about trying to steal from them.

Of course he’d hired extra security just in case though. She would have rolled her eyes at the mere thought right then, had it not been for Lucky’s mouth falling upon hers.

Mmm…her sweet craving for the night – fulfilled. Chocolate…

"Damn," he sighed pulling away after a moment. The velvet backdrop of night reflected the moon and caused her to look like some glowing goddess in black. "You look…"

He couldn’t find the words, and Elizabeth grinned. "Thank you…it’s a little tight though."

Lucky bit his lip and merely THOUGHT the Neanderthal response instead of saying it aloud. ‘In all the right places.’

"It’s perfect," he sighed. "You’re perfect," he said before kissing her again. She definitely deserved a ‘dangerous curves’ sign stuck on her bottom tonight.

He stilled for a moment and sighed. Nerves overtaking him. But when Elizabeth melted for a moment against his lips, he seemed to forget all nervousness.

She kissed him and felt the weight of the night drift away for just a moment. She’d been so tense - so worried about this evening that she’d forgotten what it meant. She’d forgotten that in a matter of hours she’d be completely free of this place. No longer a slave to lies and deceit…only a slave to Lucky’s passion.

And right then she wanted to be that more than anything.

When his hands linked behind her waist and pressed her closer, she took the opportunity to feel his broad shoulders. God he felt and looked good in his tux. He always had.

His shoulders were firm beneath the dark black color. And she’d have given anything to unfasten his bow tie and nibble on that delicious neck of his. Lick his Adam’s Apple until he was forced to throw her down to the grass and bury himself inside her.

"Ok…ok," she panted. Pulling back before things got completely out of hand. They could do this later. They would HAVE to do this later. "Hey…don’t we have a plan we need to be carrying out….or something?" She panted.

Lucky scratched the back of his head and looked up at her. One day soon she WOULD die from the shear amount of sexuality he exuded with every gesture and glance.

"Yeah," he sighed. "But there’s one part of the plan that I forgot to tell you about."

Elizabeth’s eyes opened wide in shock. "You’re just telling me this now Lucky?"

He ducked his head closer to her, as the music began to fade into this new song from inside the house. "Well, I didn’t know until right now that they were gonna play…THIS song……………May I have this dance Elizabeth?"

A sheepish grin slid over her lips and she felt herself, blush a little at the way that he’d asked. Like they were kids again. Dipping her head, shyly she responded. "Oh…that’s your plan? To dance with me?"

"Yes, right now it is," Lucky smiled, wrapping her in his arms.

"How did you get them to play this?" Elizabeth asked. Laying her head against those same broad shoulders. This would always be home.

"Who said I did anything?"

"Lucky –

"I asked Maria if she’d make a request," he answered. Not giving her the chance to grill him. If she was ever going to shut up and just dance, he had to answer he questions quickly.

"Aaah," Elizabeth giggled, as his hand slipped up her back and into her hair. "That explains it………You know, one of these days, Lucky Spencer you’re no longer going to be able to rely on that charm of yours."

"I’m not?" Lucky asked.

Elizabeth sighed in contrition at the way his voice had cracked on the word, ‘not.’ "No…I’m lying…You are."

"Don’t worry," Lucky sighed. Inhaling deeply. Was that her hair, or the magnolia blossoms lining the garden? "I’ll only turn on the charm for YOU."

"And you’ll always use your powers for good and not evil?" Elizabeth asked. Tightening her grip around his shoulders.

"Well," Lucky began. Letting his hands drift lower, and over the tightly covered curve of her ass. "Not always."

Even as she giggled, she could feel him tense and sigh.

He didn’t have to say what was wrong. She could sense it. "Everything’s already going like clockwork Lucky…there’s nothing to worry about."

"Just tell me that you know what you’re doing with this guy Elizabeth."

"Lucky, I swear to you that I do…I may not have LIKED being married to him for the last few years, but I did learn a few things about what makes him tick…I’ve got this covered ok?"

Unabashedly he tightened his arms around her until there was no more space left between them. "Elizabeth when he came out on stage with you just now…holding your hand…

"I know," Elizabeth cut in, whispering against his ear.

"No…I don’t think you do," he broke in. Continuing to hold her tight. It was probably best she didn’t look at him when he said it. Or see his eyes. "I feel like I’m losing it you know?…The battle."

"What battle?" She asked cautiously. Though she felt she already knew.

"The battle I fight everyday when I tell myself not to kill him."

Elizabeth closed her eyes and let her hands travel soothingly up his back. Every muscle taut beneath her fingertips. "Maybe after tonight Lucky…neither of us will have to feel that way anymore."

Lucky pulled back and gazed into her eyes. "Elizabeth, I want you to promise something. I want you to promise me that you’ll be careful. I want you to promise that you’re not gonna try anything. That you’re going to stick to the plan and not let your anger and hatred for this guy get to you…not let it throw you off course."

She wasn’t going to let him get to her. Wasn’t going to let him throw her off of anything. She had a plan and she intended on seeing it through. "Everything’s going to be fine."

It wasn’t a promise, Lucky noticed. Pulling her back into his arms. She hadn’t said the words, ‘I promise.’

"Let’s just finish dancing," Elizabeth murmured against his hear. Her breath, warm and soothing. "After tonight we won’t have to hide in the shadows to dance Lucky…after tonight we’ll be able to go out dancing in public…anywhere we want…and not have anyone tell us it’s wrong…not have to hide from anybody at all…"

On the pretense of feeling her up a little bit and making her giggle mid sentence, Lucky let his hands linger slightly as they moved down the sides of her body. Relieved that she wasn’t packing anything.

"Yeah," he sighed. Content that his own fantasies about killing Hart were simply starting to addle his mind with images of her doing it instead. "He’ll be behind bar for whatever the Hell we can get on him…speaking of which."

"You have to go," Elizabeth sighed. Her eyes suddenly sad.

Lucky pressed his lips to his fingertips and then pressed them to her mouth. Fearing that if he got too close again, he wouldn’t be able to pull away. "Only for a little while…

"I’ll be right there when you need me – you know that right Elizabeth?"

"I know you will," she answered. Nodding. "Good luck."

Lucky walked backwards into the shadows as he continued to gaze at her. "Good luck Sweetie."

~~~~~~~

"Perfect," Elizabeth whispered. Making her way through the endless trays of hors devours and towards the bottle of champagne that set out on the countertop. It stood there…just waiting for her.

She maneuvered her way around the large gourmet kitchen. The cooks all too busy with creating more fabulous finger foods to notice the bosses’ wife enter the room. The servers in too big of a flurry going in and out to bother with even a nod in greeting.

Elizabeth quickly wrapped her fingers long neck of the bottle and poured two glasses of champagne. Glancing behind her shoulder once as it bubbled up closer to the brim. Everyone was still, too busy to notice.

That was exactly how she wanted it.

The huge diamond on her hand sparkled as it caught the light. A perfect sign that this was the right thing to do – the only thing. It was the only way to finally rid Alex from their lives. If she poured just the right amount into –

"Hey Liz, can I get you anything?"

Her entire body shook from the surprising sound of a voice behind her, and about an ounce of champagne spilled from the glass. She’d just have to pour more…

"Hi, Angela," Elizabeth said. Turning around to smile at her cook turned server for the evening.

Alex had made sure all the servants were busy. Saying that you could never have too much help on a night such as this. Even though they had plenty.

"No, I’m good…thanks," Elizabeth finished, turning back to the two glasses that now shook in her hands. ‘Quit the trembling, Webber,’ She warned herself sternly. Inhaling deeply through her nose.

Angela watched as her boss poured a few more drops from the nearly empty champagne bottle into the glasses she held in her hands. She quietly cleared her throat.

"You know the ones I’ve got on the tray here are chilled…that bottle has to be really warm by now. I think it’s been sitting out all night."

Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak but stumbled over her words for a moment as she glanced at the tray that Angela held in her hands. "No…you know what…this is fine."

"You sure?"

"Yeah," Elizabeth smiled.

"Because I could just -

"I said it was fine!" Elizabeth snapped. Closing her eyes after a moment. She quickly collected herself. "I’m sorry Angela – I didn’t mean to snap at you like that…I just get all stressed out with events like this you know?…But really – this champagne is just fine, thank you."

"Ok," Angela nodded, grinning weakly. The boss lady was losing it.

"Girl can’t you see she’s eager to slip off some place with Romeo?" Maria put in slyly as she walked by with yet another tray of hors devours. She grinned mischievously from Angela back to her boss. She for one couldn’t blame Liz for wanting to sneak away to some cozy little spot out back with Mr. Sex-On-Legs.

"Oooh," Angela sighed, shaking her head. "I’m sorry Liz…I didn’t even think about that…Well damn – have some fun for us, would ya?"

Maria grinned. "You wanna take Lucky some of this food?"

Elizabeth’s breath stilled in her chest for a moment, but she went with it. "Um, no - You know, he really isn’t too fond of little pink things on crackers, as he likes to call them."

Angela and Maria snickered quietly as a few servants passed. "Well tell him we said hi…and have fun."

Awkwardly, Elizabeth nodded. "We will…thanks."

~~~~~~~

He’d been too calm.

That had been Lucky’s first thought tonight when Alex had hit the stage and welcomed his guests. Too calm and far too collected for a man who had no proof. He hadn’t been shaken in the slightest bit. Not the way you would think a man who hadn’t found what he was looking for in an antique chest from his mother, would be.

These plaguing thoughts are what kept Lucky from opening the chest immediately. Silently, he turned the small key over in the palm of his hand wondering what he’d find inside.

What if there was nothing there? What if everything he hoped to find – for his peace of mind, for Elizabeth’s – wasn’t there? What if, when he opened this damn box there was nothing but empty space? What if the old man’s ‘gut feeling’ about what lie inside was just that – a feeling - or what if he’d simply lied?

Something told him that he’d been wrong about Helena having an extra key. The smile on Alex’s face this evening told him that.

Lucky bit down on his lip and walked over to the thick wooden door, knocking twice. His father would hear it and whisper a little something on his ear-piece to Nikolas.

His father, who milled about in the hallway like security. To be exact, like the security guard he’d knocked out a few hours ago and wrapped up in a closet somewhere.

It was a good thing that Luke was there tonight. Something told Lucky that he would need his father this evening. ‘Yeah…and you’re father would have opened the damn box already,’ Lucky thought to himself moving quickly back around Alex’s desk.

He didn’t have time to waste anymore. If things were going as scheduled, Elizabeth was busy cozying up to Alex by now. The thought alone made him shove the thick key into the chest and push open the lid.

A sigh escaped him – it was far from empty.

There seemed to be documents and folders, piled up inside. Tons of things to look at.

"Ok," Lucky muttered to himself. Sifting throughout the various documents inside. "What are we lookin’ at here?"

"I was about to ask the same thing?" Nikolas said. Slipping stealthily through the small crack in the door that Luke so discreetly opened. Almost stealthily…

Lucky gave him the evil eye when he knocked the coat wrack over that stood by the door.

"Sorry, sorry," Nikolas said quickly, moving towards the spot behind the desk where his brother stood. "Have you found anything?…He looks too calm out there Lucky. I don’t like it."

He took only a moment to stare into his older brother’s eyes. It was moments like these that proved to Lucky that the fact that they shared DNA wasn’t a practical joke.

Nikolas breathed deeply. Reading Lucky’s guarded glance. "There’s gotta be something in there Lucky…something that we can use to prove he isn’t who he says he is…that he has absolutely no claim to anything Cassidine."

Lucky licked his lips and tore through various folders. "Listen Nikolas, even if he produces some kind of…documentation, it won’t matter. It’s like your uncle said – he’s not the eldest son of the eldest son. He’s not even a Cassidine by blood."

Straightening, Nikolas watched Lucky rummage through the contents of the chest. Knowing that what was really important to his brother right now was finding out Alex’s part in the rift between he and Elizabeth. His brother would never have another moment’s peace until he knew everything there was to know.

He watched as Lucky’s hands stilled. His eyes fascinated by various numbers that leaped out from a page tucked inside a manila folder. The figures meant nothing to Nikolas, but they seemed to mean a great deal to him.

"What is it?" Nikolas asked. Leaning forward for a better look.

"Exactly what we need to prove that Alexander Hart is a liar and a thief…it’s the list…The list of company names. All the bogus ones that I was stealing from."

Nikolas stilled. "You’re serious?"

"You think I would lie about something like that?" Lucky sighed. Passing the evidence over to Nikolas.

"Listen," Nikolas began, noticing the well-hidden look of panic on his brother’s face. "This isn’t gonna touch you ok?…This is Alex and Helena’s crime – not yours."

Rapidly shifting his eyes away from his brother’s, Lucky began going through the stack of papers he’d pulled from the chest once more. He couldn’t worry about jail or anything else right now. For the past few years, all that had mattered to him was finding out the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of what Helena had done.

And now he wondered how Alex had been involved. He wanted every single detail.

Lucky read through the first page of the new folder in his hands and paused for a moment. Recognizing the address at the top of the page immediately:

Apartment number 915. Horatio St. Greenwich Village, New York.

His first ‘official’ home with Elizabeth. The address still caused his throat to tighten, and his heart to beat a little faster.

Lucky skipped cautiously down the page. Dates and times with no significant meaning at the time they were recorded, suddenly jumping out at him. The meanings made clear by the description of events that lay next to them.

Descriptions such as, "L departs for work (approx. 9:30a.m.) E in apt. alone (should leave for school 10:00a.m.). Apt. empty from 10 to 1700 hours (installation of camera 1 to occur approx. 1300 hours).

His eyes darted down the page. Widening at each description.

"L departs after receiving anonymous phone call about robbery at bike shop. (Gone, indefinite amount of hours). E in apt. alone. Break in scheduled for 1am. No harm done to E - note to be left for L. First step in final phase of operation."

Nikolas jumped a little when Lucky slammed the folder down to the desk. Alex’s pen holder toppling to the ground.

"You ok?"

"No," Lucky said. Speaking the word through his teeth. He inhaled through his nose. "Let’s just finish this and get out of here."

~~~~~~~

Elizabeth giggled and slipped her arms around Alex’s neck, pulling him inside the room as he protested. She’d succeeded and getting him this far upstairs…there was no turning back now.

"Bethie…I have to get back downstairs. It’s getting time to make the scholarship announcements."

"They can wait," Elizabeth mumbled. Rising on her tiptoes to kiss his neck. "Here…I brought you a refreshment."

Alex sighed and took the glass of champagne that she offered, sitting it down on the dresser. "Bethie –

"Oh come ON Alex…how long has it been?…You mean you’re going to turn down your wife? A woman who is so obviously throwing herself at you…after MONTHS of not making love?…Don’t you want me?"

He watched as she sat down on the bed and slipped off her shoes. Not catching the quick flick of her wrist beneath the bed. The rapid-fire way she turned on the tape recorder.

Hell yes he wanted her, Alex thought. And Hell no was he going to turn her down. He was simply going to put her off for a bit.

"Bethie, it’s important that I get downstairs and address our guests –

Elizabeth eyed him and shot up from the bed. Slithering against him as she sat her own full glass of champagne down and picked up his. She offered it to him once more as she unfastened his tie with the other hand.

"What in the world could be so important that you need to do it RIGHT THIS MINUTE, hmm?…Come on Alex." She cooed. Nipping at his ear. "I want you…especially now."

Alex pulled back, wrapping his fingers around her forearms so that she wasn’t able to touch him. Unable to get too close. "Oh really…why, especially now?"

Teasingly, Elizabeth rolled his glass against his lips.

"Why NOW?" He repeated, staring into her eyes when she didn’t answer.

Elizabeth giggled. "I just mean you don’t have to pretend anymore silly…I know."

She went to kiss his neck again, and he pushed her back. Clinging to her arms. Elizabeth bit her lip as a few drops of his champagne spilled out on her hand. Damn it if he didn’t take a drink soon she’d scream.

‘Ok, Webber switch modes…Take the serious approach,’ she thought quickly. ‘The ‘understanding’ wife.’

"I figured it out Alex…about your father…and Helena."

The champagne did indeed splash nearly entirely out of the glass this time when he shook her. His eyes going wide as he pressed his fingers more firmly into her flesh. How had she…how did she…what…

"You…what do you know?"

"It’s ok, Sweetheart," Elizabeth said reassuringly. Her eyes wide and sympathetic "It’s ok…I understand why you hid it so long, and I understand why you’re picking tonight to tell everyone."

"How did you –

"Someone as powerful as you…as exciting," Elizabeth sighed. Letting her fingers drift down his cheek and down his neck. "I should have known all along you belonged to royalty…In fact, I think I did know - right from the beginning. I just wasn’t mature enough to handle it then…Lucky brainwashed me into thinking that everything Cassidine was bad…but the way I feel about you – the way I feel about us – it can’t be bad."

‘And I have never, EVER wanted to yack more than I do right this moment,’ Elizabeth thought. Glancing down at the now nearly half empty glass of champagne. ‘Don’t panic…you’ll just have to pour a little more of yours into his when he’s not looking and slip into the bathroom to get some more drugs.’

"But…" Alex floundered for words. She knew…and she understood? "How did you – when did you find out? There’s no way -

"Like I said," Elizabeth smiled. "I’ve known for awhile now…I just didn’t know how to approach you with it. I think I’ve known since Paris."

"What?" Alex asked, completely bewildered.

"Months ago…When we were in Paris for Valentine’s Day. The news of Helena’s death had just hit Europe and you were so devastated. I remember you sitting in our suite and just reading that front page over and over…"

Alex sank slowly down to their bed. She knew…

"And then when I was in Port Charles…weeks ago," she said quickly, at his glance up at her. "When I was still…confused – and trying to be friends with Lucky…well, Emily and I went to Luke’s club…and I saw that portrait – the one of Helena…and I noticed that tiny heart for the first time…and I realized that your father must have done it.

"Oh Alex, they must’ve been so in love," Elizabeth sighed. Sitting down next to him and running a hand down his back. "Anyone who paints like that has to be incredibly in love with his subject."

He couldn’t believe his ears. Couldn’t believe what she was saying. "You know…and you’re not…mad?" He swallowed hard against the dryness in his throat.

"How could I be mad?…They gave me you…And you are everything I’ve ever wanted."

Overtaken by emotion, Alex leaned in and encircled her slim body in his arms. Pressing his lips firmly against hers. And she kissed him back. God help him, she kissed him back with as much fervor as he felt.

He knew it. He knew everything would be fine once the legacy was passed on to him. Once he made it official and told the world.

Breathless he pulled away, gazing into her eyes. "You know everything then…you know that I – that I helped my mother to break you and Lucky apart. You know that?"

Elizabeth bit hard enough on her bottom lip to draw blood, but only nodded.

"And it’s ok?…You know that I only did what I had to do, right?…Some of those things I never wanted to do – but…Helena – Mother, she told me that it was for the best…and I’m so glad now that I listened to her. We could have never been like this if not for everything I did to secure our happiness."

She nodded again and then smiled. No matter how difficult it was, she had to get DETAILS on record. "How?" She asked suddenly. "Tell me exactly HOW you did it."

Alex’s eyes went wide. And an immediate trail of sweat dripped down his back. "Wh…why?" He asked.

Grimacing, Elizabeth whispered seductively. "Because…just hearing about all the planning and everything you had to go through to…win me…God, that will turn me on more than anything in this world."

‘Win me,’ the words coated her tongue with bile.

Shaking his head, he leaned in to nip at that wonderfully exposed neck of hers. Slipping his tongue along the diamonds that laced it. He pulled back after a moment, noticing hse wasn’t reciprocating. "You wanna know how?"

"Yes," she said silkily against his ear. Climbing into his lap as she finished what she’d started earlier with his bow tie. She could have hurled all over him when she felt his excitement grow beneath her. "I wanna hear every…single….little….detail," she sighed. Kissing different spots on his neck as punctuation between words.

"I can’t Elizabeth…I don’t want you to be ashamed of me…You’ll be hurt…Please just know that I did what I had to do."

‘Fuck!’ Elizabeth thought. Biting on his ear. He hissed beneath her. She needed to find a way to get to the bathroom and alter his drink a little. That would make the rat bastard talk.

Her eyes blurred as she glanced at the empty glass on the nightstand. His hands busy fumbling for her zipper.

"Please…pretty please," she begged. "With…ME on top…"

Alex nearly growled when he grabbed her and lay her beneath him. His hand journeying up the slit of her dress. She clamped a hand over his, and looked into his eyes. "Oooh, one second ok?…I have to go the little girls room."

He moved off of her and watched as she adjusted the tube dress that she wore. "I thought you stopped taking the pill."

"I did," Elizabeth said rapidly. Turning to face him. "You know that Sweetheart…you saw me give ‘em the old flush-a-roo weeks ago, remember?"

Alex nodded. Had he forgotten? Things had been so busy these last few days. Maybe he was losing his mind.

But now things would be better.

"I just have to pee," Elizabeth giggled. Lifting both glasses of champagne. "It probably has something to do with this," she added. Sipping less than a drop from her own glass.

"Hurry," Alex said through the door when it closed between them. "I think we should move this party over to the guest house."

Elizabeth froze behind the door, glaring at her own reflection. "What?…Why?"

"The surveillance cameras," Alex groaned.

The shiver that had threatened just a moment ago washed completely over her body now.

Lucky…

"Cameras?"

"Yes, Sunshine," Alex sighed. As if tired of the questions now. He just wanted to bury himself in her and then get on to his announcement. "You know we’ve got cameras all over the property – I thought it’d be wise to leave them on tonight…with so many guests milling about."

He didn’t tell her that he’d had them on while he’d been in Italy as well. Of course he knew he wouldn’t see anything on those tapes now. She loved him. She’d been faithful. He knew that without a doubt now. Maybe he should have taken her with him.

No matter – they had tons of time and money to travel now. More money than they’d ever be able to spend in a lifetime…They’d leave it to their children.

"Hurry…You’ve got me wanting you now," Alex breathed. Trailing his hand along the bathroom door in eager anticipation.

Elizabeth closed her eyes for a brief moment. Feeling faint all of a sudden. She inhaled through her nose to clear hear head. ‘Focus Webber…focus…Lucky thinks you’re going to be in THIS room…leave something…’

Yanking a tube of lipstick from her purse she wrote the words, ‘Guest House,’ in big letters along the mirror. Pouring her champagne into his glass, she quickly slid her hand along the bottom of her toiletry drawer for the small bit of poison that remained. Dousing his glass just as he called to her again.

"Coming," she giggled, before turning quickly to flush the toilet for effect.

Alex grinned widely when she appeared in the door jam. Holding out her glass to him. "I think you better finish this for me, or I’m going to be making a few potty stops along the way."

"Here’s to us," he said smiling as he clinked the glass softly against her nose. "And a new beginning."

And with that he drank a good healthy gulp from his glass. Elizabeth grinned as she took his hand and followed him out the door, down the corridor, and inside the hidden elevator to the side of the staircase. ‘No Alex,’ Elizabeth thought. ‘Here’s to the end.’

~~~~~~~

Nikolas moved through the foyer, hot on Lucky’s heels. Wishing he’d slow down just a bit. He watched Lucky smooth his hand along the wall looking for the spot that would uncover the concealed elevator, as if he did it all the time.

‘He does,’ Nikolas thought. ‘He’s been staying here for days.’

Nikolas couldn’t imagine it. Living in this hell-hole? Even being here for a few hours for a party was too much for him.

A small woman suddenly impeded Lucky’s path, causing him to waken from his intense focus when they ran smack into each other. "Oh…hey…" he said quickly. "I’m sorry Angela."

"No problemo," Angela grinned. A smile spreading from ear to ear as Lucky’s fingers slipped down her arms. "You ok?"

Good thing they’d both been empty handed at that moment or there could have been quite the accident all over his yummy tuxedo. ‘But then, maybe we’d have to just take it off…’ Angela thought deliciously.

"Yes…um…I think…um…I think I’m fine."

Clearing her thoughts, she glanced down at his empty hands. "You finished all that champagne, I guess?…You we tried to get Elizabeth to bring you food, but she seemed far more adamant about the alcohol – I guess we all need it to get through these little society functions, huh?"

Lucky blinked a few times. Too obsessed with getting to Elizabeth, to pay much attention to what she was saying. "What?"

"You know," Angela continued. Shrugging. "The champagne…you couldn’t possibly have forgotten a glass of nasty, warm champagne – sorry about that by the way. I tried to give her some chilled glasses, but you know Liz when she gets her mind set on something – she wanted the glasses SHE’D poured ESPECIALLY for you two – no ifs, ands, or buts!

"Really possessive about her champagne that girl is," she joked.

A sudden chill rippled through Lucky’s body.

Elizabeth was going to make ‘sure of things.’ For days now that had been her motto. She’d been so calm. So secure in the fact that Alex would no longer pose a problem for them.

‘Neither of us is 15 years old anymore…nothing is going to go wrong. I’ve made sure of that.’

The words she’d said the day before in the kitchen ricocheted through his brain now and lightening speed. She’d made sure of it…

She was so extremely certain.

Like tonight, when they’d danced outside in the garden…

‘Maybe after tonight,’ she had sighed in his arms. ‘Maybe neither of us will have to feel that way anymore.’

Complete certainty – never a doubt.

‘And she never promised,’ Lucky thought, closing his eyes. She never promised you she wouldn’t do anything crazy. She’d only wanted to keep dancing.

"Lucky…" Angela said, watching as his eyes stilled on some spot across the room. He seemed to be staring at some vase. "Are you ok?"

His mind reeled. That vase, the painting on the wall…all of them were replacements for things she’d destroyed after learning of Alex’s deceit. Everything in this room had been in complete shambles.

A small scar on his side proved the depths of Elizabeth’s anger when pushed to the limits. When pushed to a point she could no longer see past.

"Lucky," Nikolas said. Placing a hand on his shoulder.

He jolted out of the memory that entranced him. "Come on," Lucky called. Patting down the wall again as it separated to expose the concealed elevator.

When they walked in through the double doors, Lucky nodded in Angela’s direction. "Thank you."